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Jan. 1,1924 1,479,462 W. J. ELDER ET AL BLOCK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR MATCH MACHINES Filed Junef. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m l N FDI/"L50 TD5 JE@ r ggullero Jan. l, 1924 1,479,462

w. J. ELDER ETv Al.

BLOCK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR MATCH MACHINES 2 sheets-,sheet 2 Q 0 D .Y www WN.: T mw W am Filed June 5,

1.4 llmf. lll... IY ll CAB Patented Jan. l, 1924.

WILLIAM J. ELDER, E oswEGo, NEW YORK, AND EDGAEA. ALLE/mor CHICO, CALI; EORNIA, AssIGNoas To THE DIAMOND MATCH COMPANY, 0E CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A

CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

BLOGK-FEEDING MECHANISM FOR MATCHVMACHINES.

Application led .Tune 3, 192.2. Serial No. 565,742.

T 0 @ZZ whom t may concern.' Y

Be it known that we, WILLIAM J. ELDER,

a resident of Oswego, in the county of Oswego and State of New York, and` EDGAR A. ALLEN, a resident of Chico, in the county of Butte and Sta-te of California, both citi- Zens of the United States, have invented gagement with the feed-rolls by meansof which the blocks are positively advanced to the path of the splint cutting instrumentalities of the match machine.

The invention, in its preferred `embodiment herein illustrated, comprises an endless conveyer having its upper or active run ex-V tending into and longitudinally of the bottom of the block-supply trough; a vertically` movable frame overhanging the trough and said conveyer in advance of the feed-rolls and equipped with pressure and feed devices including an endless conveyer whereof the active run bears yieldingly upon and longitudinally of the blocks within the trough when the frame is in down position, and means whereby the said conveyers are concurrently driven in such a mannerthat the active runs thereof are caused to travel toward the feed-rolls.

The invention also comprises novel features of construction and combinations of par-ts, all of which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of thek )lock-supply trough and Vassociated parts equipped with block-feeding mechanism emhodying the principle of our invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the block guide structure which leads to the cutting mechanism of the match machine the feed rolls in said structure, andthe adjacent end of the trough, as on the line 2 9. of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation of the guide structure. showing the gearing for the feed rolls..

Fig. 4- is a side elevation ofthe trough andlthe block-feed mechanism thereof.y

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through said trough and mechanism, asron the linee-5 of Fig. 4. i

Referring to the drawings, designates a portion of a guide structure adapted to receive blocksof wood 11 anddirect them to the path of the usual splint cutters of the match machine. Intermittently Vrotatable feed rolls 12 are arranged Vin pairs within said structure and are adapted to engage the blocks (11) at topandbottomand advance them positively' to the path of thefcuttersr The shafts or trunnions ,-13 of the rolls, which have their bearingsin the'sides of the structure 10, are geared together for concurrent rotation by artra'in of gears 14 at onel side of the structure. One of theshafts or trunnions is` provided at the opposite endV of the structure with a ratchet wheel 15 and an oscillating lever 16, one arm of the latter carrying a pawl 17 in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The other arm of 'y the lever is connectedto and operated by a reciprocating link 18 to effect the intermittent rotation of the ratchet'wheel and its shaft, suoli motionv being transmitted thence` through the gearing to the feed rolls, as' usual.

The block supply trough 19 leading tothe guide structure isA illustrated as provided with two spaced parallel partitionsy Z0 which afford three longitudinal channels whereby three rows of blocks are directedv simultaneously to the guide structure, but, of course, a trough constructed to support and supply a less or greater number of rows of blocksmay be employed, if desired..

Arranged in and longitudinally ofthe bottoms of the respective channels are means for engaging the bottoms Vof the blocks and impelling them toward thevdelivery. end of the trough, i. e.. toward the feed .rollsf `In Y the present instance such meanscomprises a series of endless conveyer chains 2l' which are supported in `spaced relation to each other on sprocket wheels '22, 23 located beneath and adjacent the respective ends of the trough. The shafts 24, 25 .for the sprocket wheelsy have their bearings independing brackets 26 affixed to the sides of the trough. The upper runs of the chains extend through longitudinal slots 27. 'in' the'Vl to said rolls, said trough having a longitudinally slotted bottom, of block-'impelling means including an endless conveyer having its active run extending along the slot in said bottom, a. rail supporting said run, means for vertically adjusting said rail, a vertically-movable frame overhanging the trough in advance of said rolls, other block-impelling means including an endless conveyer mounted on said frame and having its active run extending longitudinally of the trough, means for yieldingly pressing the latter oonveyer against the block when the frame is in down position, and means for concurrently actuating the said conveyers to impel their active runs toward the feed rolls.

3. In block feeding mechanism for match machines, the combination of block-feed rolls, supporting and operating elements therefor, and a block-supply trough leading to said rolls, of means including an element for engaging the bottoms of the blocks and impelling them along the trough and toward the feed rolls, a swinging frame overhanging the trough in advance of the feed-rolls, block-impelling 'means including an endless conveyer chain mounted on said frame and having its active run extending Y longitudinally of the trough, yielding pressure means for said active run, andV meansy for actuating said chain concurrentlyT with the element for engaging the bottoms of the blocks.

4. In block feeding mechanism for match' Vsprocket Wheels carried by said frame, an

endless conveyer chain mounted on. said.

Wheels and having itsactive run extending longitudinally of the trough, a pressure bar Y extending longitudinally of and. resting on said active run, springs arranged to bear upon and depress said bar, and means for actuating said chain concurrently with the Irlemnt for engaging the bottoms of the loc s. f

WILLIAM J. ELDER. EDGAR EALLEN. 

